Platinum Doublet plus Atezolizumab as First-line Treatment in Metastatic Large Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma: A Single Institution Experience

Cancer Invest. 2022 Feb;40(2):124-131. doi: 10.1080/07357907.2021.1988962. Epub 2021 Oct 21.

Abstract

Background: Large Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Lung (L-LCNEC) is a rare type of neuroendocrine lung cancer that is increasingly diagnosed. However, the optimal management regarding the advanced stage is unclear. The purpose of this article is to present and compare our experience when L-LCNEC is treated as Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC).

Patients and methods: Overall, eight cases of L-LCNEC were included. We retrospectively reviewed medical files and reports by accessing the Institution's Data of patients diagnosed with L-LCNEC from April 2019 until December 2020 and evaluated their response to the combination of Platinum - Etoposide - Atezolizumab as first-line chemotherapy.

Results: The overall observed response rate (ORR) of 75%. The median PFS was 6.85 months. The median response duration was 5.5 months.

Conclusions: Comparing our findings with other retrospective and prospective studies, it seems that the systematic treatment of choice and management in L-LCNEC of the lung should be that of a small cell carcinoma of the lung.

Keywords: Lung carcinoma; chemotherapy; large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma; neuroendocrine carcinoma; treatment.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / administration & dosage*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / therapeutic use
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / pharmacology
  • Carcinoma, Large Cell / drug therapy*
  • Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / drug therapy*
  • Etoposide / administration & dosage*
  • Etoposide / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Platinum / administration & dosage*
  • Platinum / therapeutic use
  • Prospective Studies
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / drug therapy*
  • Survival Analysis
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Platinum
  • atezolizumab
  • Etoposide